EN 1314 (Graduate Students)
Home work is assigned in class, so it is important that you attend all the classes. If you are absent for any reason, you are excused from class. It is your responsibility to come to the following class with HW and reading assignments. If you miss 4 classes, I will request you to stop coming to class and you must repeat this class the following semester.

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Syllabus and Weekely Schedule/Spring 2012

EN 1314 (Rhetoric and Composition for International Graduate Students)Tuesdays and Thursdays (1.45 pm to 3.00 pm of Reinbolt 313)Kalpana M. Iyengarkiyengar@stmarytx.edu436-6367 or 436-3107 (English Department)Required Texts:

  1. Mercury Reader by Pearson and Longman
  2. Tea With Milk by Allen Say
  3. Signs: A Grammar Handbook by Smith
  4. Using Sources Effectively by Harris
  5. I'll Ask You Three Times, Are You OK?
Please make sure to buy all the required books on the first day of class. I will assign some reading assignments during the first day of class. Coming to class without reading the prescribed reading will affect you grades considerably. I will quiz you without any prior notice just to monitor your reading habit.
You will be asked to join the wiki created for this class and I insist that you get on as soon as I invite you to join by creating a username and password the first week of class. I shall invite you to the wiki the second day of class so you are familiar with the interactive web tool. Should you have difficulties creating an account, I request you to seek the assistance of someone in the technology center located in Charles Francis Building on campus.

Requirements for the final week: Make sure to bring a page long summary of the assigned essay to share with your classmates the day your presentations are due. Make the presentation interactive by involving and engaging your peers. I may quiz you on any day during the presentations, so everyone is required to read all the essays in The Mercury Reader as indicated on the assignment sheet. If you miss class on the day you are required to present, you will get a zero for the assignment. Also, finish up your two page research essay. I will not read more than two pages because you must be able to manage the topic in two pages. No exceptions to this requirement. Finally, the final exam has two parts. One is your research essay and the other is an in-class writing assignment, where I will ask you to write a reflection on a journal article that I will assign in class. Please turn in any extra credit assignments and post the same on the wiki page.

Another major assignment for this class is a service learning project under the direction of Dr. Humphrey. We will be volunteering at Heaven for Hope (http://www.havenforhope.org/new/) located on 1 Haven for Hope Way, San Antonio, Texas 78207. Their phone number is (210) 220-2100. I strongly urge students to go to their website and research the information before we go on a site visit. The class will write journals regularly based on their experiences and write a two page reflection at the end of the semester. The students will also present the same in class on the final examination day. I will provide you with handouts about service learning, journaling, and reflective writing.

Additional Materials Folders with sturdy pockets/sleeves. Please do not use a folder with prongs. One of these folders is for your portfolio, and the other one is to save all the assignments and handouts.Ruled note pad for class work and quizzes.
Course Objectives This class is designed to facilitate students to learn to read from a variety of texts and write exemplary academic papers. These classes require extensive reading and elaborate writing assignments. In addition, students will master research techniques that are essential for one’s success across curriculum. We will produce multiple drafts of the essays for clarity, authenticity, and precision depending on the rhetorical situation. The course will motivate students to think critically and improve their language skills by focusing on purpose, audience, genre, stance, and design in writing. Plenty of time is provided for students to revise each essay for the portfolio by establishing a nurturing learning community. The student will also analyze the writing processes; engage in collaborative group discussions and writing; shape intelligent ideas using Bloom’s taxonomy; and master research techniques including APA documentation style manual.Grading Policy Culture of the Week Brochure: 10 pointsSummary of My Name is Khan: 10 pointsEssays: 40 pointsQuizzes and Exams: 10 pointsI’ll ask you three times, are you OK?: 10 pointsAttendance and Participation: 10 pointsLearning Assistance Center: 10 points
Grading Scale A: 100 – 90 pointsB: 80 – 89 pointsC : 70 – 79 pointsF : Below 70 points
Important Warning
I do not drop international students due to immigration restrictions or any inconvenience the drop might cause an international student. However, if you have excessive absences (two weeks) and if you do not turn in assignments on time, or do not come prepared to class with working drafts, or make a failing grade in quizzes and examination, I will request the student not to attend classes and the student will get an “F” for the class. You have to retake the class should this happen. Please make sure to read the syllabus including the weekly schedule carefully so you understand the requirements and policies for this class.
Attendance Policy: I abide by the policies stipulated by St. Mary’s University with attendance and code of conduct. However, there are several advantages in attending classes. Students learn to share and formulate ideas through class discussions, synthesize a working draft through group work, and enhance confidence in writing and public speaking techniques by sharing in class. Absences will also affect your grades considerable, and you may not procure the grade that you deserve for not attending classes. Any student who misses two weeks of class (four class periods) is subject to being dropped without warning. Should you miss a class, please email your professor immediately and call your study buddy for any assignments. Coming late to class is not only a disruption but also loss of instruction, so plan on arriving on time. If you come late four times, it is equivalent to one absence. I will take roll each class period not to monitor your presence, but to track your participation. I will also lock the door after five minutes after class begins. Make sure to be in class five minutes before class commences.
Essay Design Your final version of the essay must be typed double spaced with font size of 12. Make sure to include your name, the course number (EN 1311), the professor’s name (Iyengar), and the date on each essay/assignment. Remember to center the title of your assignment. Please do not say “Essay 1” or “Assignment 1.” See example below. All essays are two full pages long unless specified.Gowri M. Iyengar EN 1313Iyengar1/13/11 My Mother
My mother is an amazing woman with immense patience, perseverance, and tolerance in life. I admire her diligence during crisis time. I think that my mother is my hero in life!
Code of Conduct: Students are expected to follow the university policies with respect to behavior and dealings with authority figures. Also, remember that we are all adults and your peers and professors deserve to be treated with respect and courtesy. Absolutely no texting including email activity, or cellular phone usage allowed in class. You may use the laptop if it is required in class.
My class is no cell phone zone. Please do not set your cell phones on vibrate and fiddle with it during class. If you have a sick child or a pressing issue, make sure to leave the room if you have to take a call or make one during class time. Please do not go in and out several times. The same holds good with texting. There is absolutely no texting during class. If you violate any of these rules, you will be escorted out of the classroom immediately without prior notice.
Weekly Schedule (Tentative) (All readings are from The Mercury Reader (TMR) and I’ll ask you three times, are you OK? and other workbooks. You are required to read the novel I’ll ask you three times, are you OK? on your own time and post the summary as instructed on the wiki page. I may read a couple of pages in class so we can discuss the importance of oral reading)
Writing Assignment - Name Game. Interview someone on campus about their first and last names. In theUSA, we use our last names along with our first names unlike in some international cultures where we use initials before the given name. My name in India was B.P. Kalpana (B for the ancestral place, Bindiganavile and P for my father’s name, Prasannakumar). Ask about the history, cultural affiliations, and connotations of both first and last names. My name is Kalpana M. Iyengar. Kalpana is my first name, which means imagination in the south Indian language called Kannada and Iyengar is the social class I belong to back home. My father’s sister gave me that name because she was in love with the famous Kannada movie actress Kalpana (she was famous with the title “Minuguthare”- minuge for shining and thare for star). Some relatives even today jokingly call me Minugethare! My given name was Srilatha so that it would rhyme with my brothers’ names; Srihari, Srikanth, and Srinidhi. Since father’s sister has a say in the naming ritual in my culture, I was named Kalpana instead of Srilatha. Find out why the family chose that name, does the person like his/her name, does the person like his/her name and would have changed it given a choice. Try to elicit as much information as possible. The following StMU staff has agreed to speak with you. Please make appoints with them as soon as you get a chance. I will take you all to show you where their offices are the second day of class.
  1. Jo Ann (Registrar/6789)
  2. Cinthia Deleon (Registrar/6789)
  3. Elvire Smoilk (Registrar/6789) Dora Ybarra (Business Office/8065)
  4. Cyra Dumitru (English Communication/5027)
  5. Alice Kersnowski (English Communications)
  6. Mildred Rodriguez (English Communication/3107)
  7. Barbara Biascolli (LAC/3348)
  8. Lisa Sellers (LAC/3743)
  9. Anne Murray (Business/4268)
  10. Leona Pallansch (Political Science/3204)
Weekly Schedule (Tentative/subject to change)
All reading is from the prescribed texts. Other handouts will be provided by the professor in class. Please begin reading the novel “Ill Ask You Three Times on the 19th. I will quiz you on chapters 2 or 3 on Jan 24th. Please choose a staff at StMU and interview him/her about the first and last names. Please see the syllabus for details. This assignment is due on Jan 31st. Make sure to make an appointment with the person of your choice immediately.

Jan 19 – Introduction, syllabus, and “The Cheating Epidemic” (An article in The Chronicle of Higher Education – copies will be provided in class)
Jan 24 – Essay, research paper, and textbook discussion. Please bring all the textbooks to class so we can discuss the assignments and reading format for this class. “Ill Ask You Three Times” quiz 1

Jan 26 – “Dead Man’s Path” on page 64 of MR. Make sure to read the essay before coming to class because I may quiz you any day without prior notice to make sure that you are reading the required materials. Narrative essay discussionWriting Assignment: Write an essay on one of your childhood memories that you still remember to this day. Some of my memories are – My grandfather’s murder, The Biology teacher that I love, missing older brother, garrulous and loveable aunts, an accident that ruined my front teeth, and the beautiful monsoon rains in India.
Jan 31 – Name Game presentations in class. Narrative essay draft due in class. If you do not bring the draft, I will deduct 25 points from the final grade for this essay. The final essay is due on Feb 2nd. Please take your essays to the Learning Assistance Center as soon as we discuss your drafts in class

Feb 2 – “My Name” on page 18 and “Tea with Milk” by Allen Say. Please read both of these texts before coming to class. Quiz 2 and illustration essay discussion

Feb 7 – Illustration essay draft due. If you do not bring the draft, I will deduct 25 points from the final grade for this essay. The final essay is due on Feb 14th. Please take the essay to LAC after the draft discussion class

Feb 9 – “Champion of the World” on page 53 and process essay discussion

Feb 14 – Quiz 3 on “The Story of Stuff” documentary and Culture brochure discussion
Writing assignment: Culture Brochure. Please write about one aspect of your culture (festivals, foods, dresses, languages and dialects, art, etc) that you would like to share with your classmates. You are required to design a brochure using Microsoft Publisher as part of mid-term examination. I am fromIndia and I have a rich and engaging cultural background. For example, in my culture, we celebrate several festivals a year. Some of them are Deepavali (festival of lights), Holi (festival of colors), Navarathri (festival of dolls), Ramanavami (the birth of Lord Rama) etc. I shall briefly talk to you about one of these festivals so you get an idea about my culture.San Antonio also has an enriching cultural heritage. We celebrate the Fiesta, Cinco de Mayo, and Hunnakah
Feb 16 – “The List of Standards for English Language Arts” on page 14. Please read the essay before coming to class

Feb 21 – Classification essay discussion
Writing Assignment:
1. How we use language differently – at home, in social circles, at office, at school, and at home, etc.2. The different ways how men and women cope with pain and death3. Your neighbors – friendly, nosey, annoying, and demanding4. Your friends – emotional, stoic, depressed, and opportunistic5. Your professors – English, Biology, Engineering, Math, Kinesiology, and art6. Cars – Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Volvo
Feb 23 – Classification draft due in class. If you do not bring the draft, I will deduct 25 points from the final grade for this essay. The final essay is due on march 1st. Please take your draft to LAC

Feb 28 – “The Case Against College” on page 1 – Open book quiz 4. Research paper topic discussion

Mar 1 – Library Instruct ruction session with Diane Duesterhoeft. You must attend this class and if you are absent, I will deduct 10 points from the final grade

Mar 6 – “Persuasion” on page 89. Please make sure to read the essay before coming to class. Persuasion essay discussion

Mar 8 – Persuasion draft due in class. If you do not bring the draft, I will deduct 25 points from the final grade for this essay

Mar 12-16: Mid-semester break (classes cancelled)

Mar. 20 – Mid-term examination (Present culture brochure using technology (wiki, prezi, or power point) in class)

Mar 22 – “Chimps May Put Their Own Spin on Culture” on page 7. Definition essay discussion
Writing Assignment:
  1. Culture Shock
  2. Gender Differences
  3. Terrorism
  4. Globalization or Internationalization
  5. Racism
Mar. 27 – Definition draft due in class. If you do not bring the draft, I will deduct 25 points from the final grade for this essay. The final essay is due on April 5th. Please take your essay to LAC

Mar 29 – Research essay topics and secondary sources are due in class. Please bring your “Using Sources Effectively” text to class

April 3 – Research essay continued. Please bring your “Using Sources Effectively” text to class

April 5 – Research essay partial draft due in class. If you need help with the research essay topic, please come by my office the week before. Take your research essay to LAC

April 10 – APA format discussion. Handouts will be provided in class

April 12 – Research essay complete draft due in class

April 17 – Essay presentations. Below is the list of students with the title of the essays they will present in class. If you are absent the day you are scheduled to present, please switch with your friend with the professor’s permission. If you do not present, I will deduct 10 points from your final grade

April 19 – Essay presentations

April 24 – Process essay discussion (I will provide you with a copy of a good process essay in class)
Writing Assignment: Write a process analysis essay on one of the following topics.1. How to apply to a university?2. How does a computer work?3. How to plan for a vacation4. How to get to America from your country?You may also choose a topic of your choice with the professor’s approval
April 26 – Research essay final due in class. “My Name id Khan” movie

May 1 – “My Name is Khan” movie continued

May 3 – Quiz 5 and final examination review

May 7-11 Final Exams – I will let you know the date by April 26th

Student presentation
1. Reflection - College Pressures
2. Summary - On Dumpster Diving